A special Russian holiday on July 31 — Omelyan Day: history, traditions, omens

Every year on July 31, Orthodox believers honor the memory of Saint Emilian of Dorostol, who was martyred for his faith in the fourth century. This day in the national calendar is called Omelyan Day. In 2025, it falls on a Thursday. Read about its history, traditions, signs and strict prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

National holiday Omelyan Day – 2025: the history of the holiday

The Holy Great Martyr Emilian was born and lived in the city of Dorostol (present—day Bulgaria) in the 4th century, during the reign of Julian the Apostate, one of the most brutal persecutors of Christianity.

Julian went down in history as the Roman emperor who attempted to revive paganism: he abolished the Christian conversions of his predecessors, actively restored temples, introduced traditional pagan cults into public life, and openly persecuted believers in Jesus under the guise of "restoring justice."

Emilian was a slave of the city governor. Despite the mortal danger, he converted to Christianity in secret from his master. One night, he entered a pagan temple, destroyed idols, overturned altars, and left unnoticed.

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In the morning, when the debacle was discovered, the crowd seized an innocent peasant. Emilian confessed in order to save an innocent man, and was put on trial. During the interrogation, he was tortured and then sentenced to be burned. However, the flame did not harm him, but burned the pagans standing nearby. After that, the bonfire went out by itself, and the saint himself lay down on the coals, crossed himself and died prayerfully.

Emilian's relics were later transferred to Constantinople, and he himself was canonized as a great martyr.

Traditions of the national holiday celebrated in Russia on July 31

In Russia, the name Emilian was transformed into Yemelyan or Omelyan, and the day of his memory became a symbol of courage, purification and labor.

By this time, the peasants had already completed the main field work, but they were not supposed to relax on a holiday. Saint Omelyan's Day was considered favorable for farming. The men checked the inventory, put the outbuildings in order, the women cleaned the house, cooked food, made preparations for the winter, made jam, cooked pickles, and stored mushrooms and berries. Moreover, culinary secrets should be kept in the strictest secrecy, passing on recipes only by inheritance.

In Russia, on July 31, you should definitely visit a sauna. The ancestors attached special importance to brooms made from rye stalks. They believed that on this day they had healing powers. Various cleansing rituals, both physical and spiritual, were associated with the bath. It was believed that hot steam could "evaporate" diseases and relieve accumulated stress.

Also on the holiday, it was necessary to pay tribute to the spirit of the bathhouse — the bannik. They left offerings for him, and tried not to make noise so as not to displease him. According to legend, ignoring these rules could result in burns, lack of water, or other unexplained troubles.

What not to do on Omelyan Day

In Russia, evening and night on Omelyan Day were considered dangerous, so it was not recommended to leave the house after sunset. According to beliefs, evil spirits are activated at this time, and evil spirits go out in search of new victims.

It was also forbidden to lend or borrow money on Omelyan Day. It was believed that the money might not return to the owner. Sweeping the floor in the house was also forbidden — along with the dust, luck and prosperity could be swept away.

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On July 31, the ancestors tried not to plan the wedding and even talk about the wedding. It was believed that the marriage, concluded shortly after Omelyan Day, would be accompanied by strife.

In addition, gluttony was forbidden on the holiday, as it promised financial losses. There was a popular saying about this: "The bigger the belly of an Omelyan, the thinner the purse." Our ancestors believed that excessive eating could lead to unforeseen expenses and loss of financial balance.

Folk signs for July 31

In Russia, it was believed that Omelyan Day was one of those calendar milestones when nature dictated what autumn and the beginning of winter would be like. A warm day promised hot September and cold December.

The increased activity of insects, especially flies, foreshadowed an abundance of rains. The yellowed birch leaves meant early autumn, and the cones on the tops of the fir trees meant late winter cold.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of the special national holiday Marina Lazoreva.